Jodhpur’s more than blue!

Yesterday was a long day journeying from Jaipur and we were glad to get to our hotel, that was tucked away in the heart of the city down a very narrow street. Keith slept most of the way as he was suffering from a 24 hour virus. But coming to a wonderful hotel with an amazing view of Meghrangarh certainly perked him up. First thing, we visited this quite incredible fort that dominates the skyline. It is huge; we can only see a part of it, but it took a couple of hours to look round in itself. Then off to another mausoleum, but this time it is the wife who built it for her late husband. Finally, a walk through the market that cuddles the marvellous clock tower which replicates Big Ben (on a much smaller scale!) to the extent that the chimes ARE exactly like Big Ben. The market is a cacophony of colour, smells and noise amongst narrow allyways with hundreds of shops selling pretty much anything. Add to that Jodpur locals to the hundreds of villagers, brought in by the tired looking buses, searching for gifts for all the weddings that will take place in the next day or two, and you have an idea of the magnificent chaos that ensues. Later a tasty little meal at Winds. We end the day at the hotel on the rooftop with another bottle of quite nice Indian sparkling wine looking at the impressive fort and, to our delight, lit up by a firework display from, probably, the reception of the wedding party that we practicaly bumped into outside our hotel. Marvellous sight, with the groom on his white horse and many ladies dancing in the street - much better that Jagger and Bowie!